The development of engineered resins over the last decade has brought new opportunities for plastic injection molding to become a dominant manufacturing process for many industries. Every year plastic injection molding becomes more complicated with designs that were not possible previously. New resin formulations are developed every year to increase strength, decrease weight, and add a level of product durability that makes injection molding the new standard option for the latest products in several industries. With new resin formulations and part designs comes new technology to support the latest innovations. At SEA-LECT Plastics, we strive to stay on top of the newest technology available, to support environmentally sustainable manufacturing, and offer turn-key solutions that bring new products to market quickly and efficiently. These new technologies are shaping the products for tomorrow and opening up new possibilities in the future:
Injection Molding Using Pressurized Gas Assistance
Nitrogen is a common gas used to assist injection molding. It can be used to assist injection of the molten plastic into difficult mold shapes that an injection molding machine may have trouble filling completely. There are multiple ways to inject the nitrogen into the mold, whether that is directly into the cavity of the mold or through a nozzle to assist the material into difficult areas. The technology utilizing pressurized gas has allowed injection molding to advance forward as the process is very efficient and effective allowing for more complex designs and difficult shapes to be formed with little waste.
Injection Molding Using Structural Foam
As more products are being converted from metal to plastic, the need for high-strength materials is continually growing. Metal products also face the challenges of corrosion, chemical resistance, and thermal protection that must be considered when converting to plastic. Structural foam is being utilized as an option to manufacture commercial automotive parts and products, recreational vehicles, and industrial or outdoor equipment that reside in extreme environments. Injection molding with structural foam allows for gas-assisted molding to form larger panels with excellent durability, strength and impact resistance. In addition to increased strength, injection molded parts with structural foam can be up to 15% lighter than similar parts from traditional injection molding.
Injection Molding for Thin-Wall Applications
As products are continually pushed to be lighter, the walls of the components are becoming thinner and thinner. Thin-wall products are more difficult to mold, so new resins and technology are being developed to make thin-wall injection molding easier. Thin-walled molding requires higher pressure to ensure the mold is completely filled, and new gas-assisted technology is making thin-walled plastic injection molding easier to accomplish. This will allow new global packaging options, new food-grade containers, and other industries to join in the evolution of plastic injection molding.
Multi-Material Injection Molding
There are often times that products and components need varying textures, colors, and strength. In the past that required multiple injection molds that made components that fit together. New technology is enhancing injection molding utilizing multiple materials within the same mold to decrease complexity of components, yet add increased strength with improved chemical and thermal resistance. Applications range from simple items like a toothbrush to heavy-duty construction power tools. Multi-material molding is eliminating the need for secondary operations to add strategic logos and badging, and can also remove processes to bond components together. Removing each can reduce overall product costs by reducing labor, solvents, and extra equipment to create new products.
SEA-LECT Plastics is a leader in plastic injection molding with options for assembly and logistics. We can aid with resin selection on a new product, offer turn-key assembly options, and program management to see the complete development cycle through with success. Give us a call at (425) 339-0288 or email us at mattp@sealectplastics.mystagingwebsite.com. We can offer you advice on the best technology to use, the best materials to meet your product demands, and how to navigate through each development stage. At SEA-LECT Plastics, we specialize in military product applications, outdoor adventure gear, musical instruments, supporting the medical and consumer product industries. Our goal is to make your project efficient and cost-effective to manufacture, assemble, and ship no matter how complicated your concept is.
Matthias Poischbeg was born and raised in Hamburg, Germany. Matt moved to Everett, Wash., after finishing his bachelor’s degree in business in 1995 to work for Sea-Dog Corporation, a manufacturer, and distributor of marine and rigging hardware established in 1923.
In 1999, Matt took over the reins at Sea-Lect Plastics Corporation, a sister company of Sea-Dog and a manufacturer of plastic injection molded products with an in-house tool & die shop. Matthias Poischbeg is also a contributor to Grit Daily.